Birketsmithiola sanguicosta ( Hampson, 1901 )

Volynkin, Anton V., 2022, Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical genus Birketsmithiola Krüger with descriptions of five new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), Zootaxa 5205 (1), pp. 73-86 : 76

Birketsmithiola sanguicosta ( Hampson, 1901)

( Figs 3, 4 , 19, 20 )

Ilema sanguicosta Hampson, 1901 , The Annals and magazine of natural history, (7) 8 (45): 181 (Type locality: [ Kenya, Nakuru County, Elburgon] “ Br. E. Africa, Uganda Ry., mile 478”).

Type material examined. Lectotype (hereby designated) ( Figs 3 , 19 ): male, “ Mile 478. on | Uganda Rly | B.E. Africa. | 25.XI.1900. | C.S. Betton. | 1901-136.” / “ Ilema | sanguicosta | type ♂. Hmpsn.” / red ring “Type” label / “ Arctiidae | genitalia slide | No. 1550” / QR-code label with unique number “ NHMUK 014172940 ” ( NHMUK) . Paralectotype ( Figs 4 , 20 ): male, “ Mile 478. on | Uganda Rly | B.E. Africa. | 23.XI.1900. | C.S. Betton. | 1901- 136.” / “ Arctiidae | BMNH (E) slide | No. 5695” / QR-code label with unique number “ NHMUK 014173032 ” ( NHMUK) .

Note. The type series of the species contains two males ( Hampson 1901). In order to stabilise the nomenclature, the syntype labeled as ‘Type” is hereby designated as the lectotype.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 19.5–21.0 mm in males. Birketsmithiola sanguicosta is the largest species in the genus. The forewing shape, colouration and the male genitalia structure are most similar to B. kruegeri sp. n., a detailed comparison is provided below under the diagnosis of the latter species.

Distribution. The species is known only from its type locality in western Kenya (Nakuru County) ( Fig. 34 ). The record from Zimbabwe ( Hampson 1901, 1914) belongs to B. transvaalensis . The records from north-eastern D.R. Congo (Kivu) ( Kiriakoff 1965), Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda ( Pinhey 1979) most probably belong to other species and require clarification.

Figures

FIGURE 34. Distributional map of Birketsmithiola spp.

FIGURES 1–8. Birketsmithiola spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1–6 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 7 in OUMNH; 8 in ANHRT.

FIGURES 17–20. Birketsmithiola spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).